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North America

The Washington Office

Contact: Mark Langevin - Subregional Secretary

Address: 1200 18th Street NW #700 - Washington, D.C. 20036 - USA

Telephone: 202-744-0072

Email: mark.langevin@world-psi.org

The Future is Public (Montreal)

12 June 2018

The Future is Public is a two-day gathering of union leaders, activists, researchers, and community groups designed to share ideas and proposals around building a pro-public movement in Canada.

PSI North America SUBRAC (Washington)

12 June 2018
PSI North American affiliates from the USA and Canada will be meeting in Washington 14-15 June. The meeting has a heavy agenda before it with a special focus on anti-privatization campaigns and trade issues.

UN Conference of State Parties to the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

12 June 2018
Shutterstock

PSI is participating for the first time in the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) held in New York from 12-14 June. PSI is also jointly organising a side event on 13 June, to identify how Social Dialogue is, or could be, used to ensure the implementation of the CRPD.

SEIU takes part in the "Poor People's Campaign"

23 May 2018

Services Employees International Union (SEIU), a PSI affiliate in the US, is joining the "Poor People's Campaign" pushing for better wages and union rights for the working poor. Originally led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr 50 years ago, this campaign is as important today as it was back then.

Oregon’s House of Representatives passes HOPE amendment on Health Care

20 March 2018
Nurses, legislators and community leaders support state constitutional amendment to recognize health care as a human right

The Oregon House of Representatives made history on 13 February 2018, voting to pass the HOPE amendment to amend Oregon’s Constitution and recognize health care as a fundamental right.

In Canada, entire new school to be built with savings from ditched PPP projects

14 March 2018

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is celebrating a major victory against Public Private Partnerships after the Manitoba government reversed plans to use the controversial PPP model for the construction of new schools in Winnipeg and Brandon.

8 things you should know about the US Supreme Court case: Janus vs AFSCME

05 March 2018

And why it may represent one of the biggest attacks on trade union rights in recent decades.

Ontario Pay Equity Results for CUPE Service Workers in Ontario Hospitals: A Study of Uneven Benefits

01 March 2018

In view of International Women’s Day on 8 March, PSI is reviving a debate about pay equity presented in the study entitled: “Ontario Pay Equity Results for CUPE Service Workers in Ontario Hospitals: A Study of Uneven Benefits” written by Jane Stinson, a Canadian political economist.

Council of Global Unions calls for solidarity with American unions facing dangerous Supreme Court case

15 February 2018

The highest meeting of union federations has called on unions across the globe to stand in solidarity with American unions whose fundamental rights are under attack.

Global conference of the Platform for Collaboration on Tax: “Taxation and the Sustainable Development Goals”

15 February 2018
Photo: Chris Potter - Creative Commons

As part of its global campaign for tax justice, PSI is co-hosting a side-event on 16 February at the First Global Conference of the Platform for Collaboration on Tax. The side event will focus on The role of tax policy in reducing intersecting inequalities and achieving the SDGs.

Trump's war against immigrants from poor countries (and against human rights)

16 January 2018

In only three days, from January 8 to 11, the president of the United States eliminated the Temporary Protected Status for Salvadoran immigrants and said that El Salvador, Haiti and African nations are "shithole countries". His words were rejected by many people around the world. The president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) issued two strong statements.

AFSCME: tax bill showers billions in tax cuts on private corporations

22 December 2017

The stealth provision added to the tax bill most especially benefits real-estate investors such as the president, according to Forbes, which estimates that Trump could see tax cut of as much as $11 million for a single year.

Support and solutions for psychological distress at work

16 August 2017
Man showing signs of stress and backache

In Quebec, there is no end to reforms in the health and social services sector, which have an adverse psychological impact on the workforce. For more than 20 years, health workers have had to constantly adapt to new standards, guidelines and structures, as determined by different governments.

AFT demands Healthcare NOW!

16 August 2017
Randi Weingarten, President of AFT, at the protest in Washington

“What do we want? Healthcare. When do we want it? Now!” These and other chants of protesters echoed off the white marble-clad U.S. Capitol during a recent protest led by Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.

Trump and NAFTA “modernization”

16 August 2017

The ensuing trade deficits and manufacturing job losses cast a shadow over this trade deal and led all three major candidates for the U.S. presidency in 2016 to reject the TPP and promise to “fix” NAFTA. Trump is following through on his promise, but that is not the whole story.

Public health care vs. the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement

04 February 2014
Public health care vs the TPP agreement

A PSI - North America strategic briefing

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations are set to erect the largest, most comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) in the world today. The negotiations include 12 nation states of the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam - with South Korea still considering its incorporation.

The Legislative Attack on American Wages and Labor Standards, 2011–2012

25 November 2013

Over the past two years, state legislators across the country have launched an unprecedented series of initiatives aimed at lowering labor standards, weakening unions, and eroding workplace protections for both union and non-union workers. This policy agenda undercuts the ability of low- and middle-wage workers, both union and non-union, to earn a decent wage.

Power, people, communities: Building bridges for migrant, labour, & human rights

23 September 2013
rally

Flyer on the rally and march taking place on Wednesday 2 October 2013 across the Brooklyn bridge.

Speech by PSI General Secretary on the Financial Transactions Tax

12 September 2013

PSI general secretary Rosa Pavanelli participated in a demonstration in Washington D.C. on 20 April 2013 in favour of the Financial Transactions Tax.

Speech by PSI General Secretary at the UN Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters

03 April 2013

Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary of Public Services International, spoke during a UN Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters, held at the UN Headquarters in New York on 6 March 2013.

Resolution 18: Support for global campaign for rights at Deutsche Telekom

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 3: Building a disaster-resilient society through the enhancement of public services

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Canada: pre-decision and information kit

19 November 2011

The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) are working with their sisters and brothers affiliated with Public Services International (PSI) to strengthen labour’s response to migration and to promote quality public health services.

United States - Pre-decision and Information Kit

04 May 2009

Each of the 50 states in the United States is unique in its own way. Elected governors and legislatures govern each state and the president and congress governs the country.

PSI Global Trade Summit

16 September 2014

Public Services International (PSI), affiliate leaders and partners will convene in Washington, D.C., in September 2014 to discuss the new threats posed to workers, public services, democracy and our communities by trade and investment agreements.

Power to the People: A Strategy Discussion on Advancing Social Ownership of Energy

11 September 2014

PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli, with representatives of PSI affiliates will be taking part in a strategic discussion on advancing social ownership of energy organised by the Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) on 20 September 2014 in New York. The TUED delegation will join in the People's Climate March on 21 September 2014.

10th FIQ Congress

11 April 2014
Mark Langevin at FIQ Congress

The FIQ (Fédération Interprofessionelle de la santé du Québec) held its 10th Congress from 7 to 10th April 2014 in Quebec city. 700 delegates from all over Quebec participated.

PSI Sub-regional Advisory Committees for USA and Canada (SUBRACs) and Labor Rights Seminar

29 January 2014

Canadian and United States PSI affiliates gathered in Washington, D.C. on January 30, 2014 to discuss the attacks on labor rights in North America.